Escape Artist

Chapter 2: Getting out of Pima County

**Paige's P.O.V**

The morning sun began to creep through the window atop my cell and I squinted, flushed with excitement and nervous feelings. I was going to see my ex, a criminal, but a boy whom I loved nevertheless. It had been almost two years since I caressed his smooth skin and felt his breath on my neck.. two things I yearned for, but never admitted to. He was so beautiful in every shape and form, his chocolate eyes boring into my blue ones as he said "I love you". The door to my cell buzzed and a guard came in and handcuffed me for "security reasons". Who did he think I was? I was just a teenager who tried marijuana once, behind a school library. I never sold any, I never even drank. I was the perfect straight A student, enrolled in almost every AP class available. I was just caught up in the wrong crowd I guess. Officer Pagreme led me to the back offices where he sat me down and began to pull out my file containing all the random nit bits I had brought with me. He pulled out my gray box and the purse I had at school as well a few loose papers that were in my binder, which I let them toss months ago. Pagreme gave me a gentle smile and then asked me to turn around so he could release the cuffs. I was led to the front of the facility where my father stood waiting for me.

"Paige.. Oh Paige, you haven't changed one bit.. my sweet princess." Tears began forming at the corners of my dad's eyes and I couldn't help but smile and breathe in his familiar scent. Axe mixed with remnants of my mom's perfume.

"Hi Daddy," I replied making him weep.

He brought me to his car which was in the lot and handed me a bottle of water saying he thought I would've been thirsty. I smiled at him and clenched my knees to my chest and stared out the window. It wasn't long before we arrived at the Phoenix airport.

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**Justin's P.O.V.**

((Two days prior to Paige's release))

My knuckles were bruised and my hair laid atop my head in a blonde heap. I was disgusted with myself, but of course I never let anyone know that. I was Justin fucking Bieber, I was a wanted criminal. I can't be afraid of my own shadow. I can't even show the slightest amount of fear as a gun is held to my head. I tried washing the blood out of the collar of my white t-shirt but it wouldn't budge. I shrugged, throwing it in the corner of my bathroom where several other t-shirts had managed to fall. Each shirt I wore had a different story. Today I killed someone. Today I held a gun to a man's head and pulled the trigger. By now I'm used to the regret I feel as I lay awake streaked in tears and screaming with nightmares. Shane was one of my closet buddies and today I had to kill him. That is something I will never forgive myself for. I will never forget the way his eyes stared up at me pleading not to do what I was about to do. His hands were tied behind his back and he sat, kneeling on the floor as I "menacingly" stood above him. It's not my fault he didn't finish Brady's orders. Shane should've known that once you're apart of us, there is no out. My mind began to dance around as I poured myself a glass of water from the sink. I shakily brought my cup to my lips, barely parting them, enough to drink, but not enough that it spilled down my naked chest, sending shivers down my body. I slipped into some sweatpants and dragged myself to the window that looked out my New York apartment. I'm loaded with money. Enough that I bought myself a penthouse and a couple maids, just for fun. I used to spend my money on the girl I love. Paige Henry. God I love that girl. I wonder how she's doing now. I remember seeing an article in the Wallstreet Journal that she was imprisoned for drugs. The drugs weren't specified, but knowing my baby, it couldn't have been anything more than some pot. When I had fallen into my rut, she watched me shoot up heroine, snort cocaine, even trip to LSD. She stayed with me the entire time. Even after I failed her time after time. I just wish I could kiss those rosy lips, just one more time.. hold her when she's scared, just one more time.. tell her I love her, just one damn last time. Tell her how sorry I am for ruining her. Show her I've changed and that I can treat her right. But I can't. Because all I am is a criminal who killed his best friend today.

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I awoke screaming to the horrific dreams of what I used to do to Paige. The punches I had thrown.. the words I had said to her... Boiling with anger I punched the wall behind my bed, shattering the drywall and covering my knuckles in blood, once again. When Paige was around, she would kiss my hands and tell me everything was going to be okay, tell me she loved me, and then nestle her head into my chest and fall back asleep to the sound of my breathing. I need to find her. I need to get to her. I need her in my life. I dialed the number for my pilot and he groggily answered

"Is everything okay Mr. Bieber?"

"Yes Marcello. I just need a jet ready in two hours."

"Two hours? Mr. Bieber I'm afraid that's not possible, it's 2 am."

"I don't care what time it is, you're going to get a jet ready Marcello."

I hastily hung up and began throwing random clothes into a suitcase. Within two minutes I showered, and got a suit and bowtie on. I walked to the vault in my room, inputting the code and grabbed a wad of 1,000's and shoving it in my pocket. On the way out to the garage I slipped on a pair of sunglasses, masking my eyes and also any light possible. "SHIT!" Due to the inability to see I walked into the corner of my island, impairing my hip. I limped to my Ferrari and headed to my runway.

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**Paige's P.O.V.**

The airport smelled of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and my stomach growled at the thought of real food. My dad walked me to the security check where the line was wrapped around the corner.

"Dad, can I have some money to grab a muffin? I'm really hungry."

He handed me a 20 and I trotted off to Starbucks. I stopped into the restroom after grabbing a lemon poppy-seed and a bottle of water. I looked into the mirror, as they had removed mirrors at Pima due to an incident where someone broke the glass to cut another inmate. My blonde hair had grown long, almost to my hip and the bags under my eyes were considerably noticeable. My face had grown more chiseled and my hip bones were beginning to protrude due to malnourishment. The clothes my dad had brought for me to change into were drowning me, the jeans were barely able to stay on and my tank top looked more like an over-sized sweater. I tried to put a smile on my face and I prepared myself to head back to security.

"Ow, watch where you're going asshole."

I bumped into a young man with a strong jawline, carrying a coffee and dressed in a tux. I whimpered out a small sorry before I realized who was standing in front of me.

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**Justin's P.O.V**

I looked up after a scrawny little girl had walked into me, spilling coffee all over my Louis Vuitton shoes. I stared this girl in the eyes and something about the icy blue reminded me of home. It suddenly hit me that the girl standing in front of me is Paige Henry. The girl I love. Paige Henry. She looks horrible, so skinny and scared. Nothing like I had remembered her as. She looked up at me, meeting my gaze and her mouth was open, slightly ajar, but enough to show off her plump lips. I studied her and neither of us began to speak yet. I decided to break the silence.

"Paige?" Wow, what a great starter, idiot. This is the girl you love, not another girl you're doing business with.

"Yeah, it's me, Paige." She sheepishly smiled, tucking a small strand of hair behind her ear. I would do anything to kiss the crap out of her, but I knew the time wasn't right, I wanted it to be special, not rushed.

"Paige, I still love you." Well you've screwed up Justin. I still love you? Who says that to someone after not seeing them for two years. She probably hates your guts and she's going to walk-

"Oh." She interrupted my thoughts with one heart shattering word. Oh. There was a few moments of silence that began to become awkward. She cleared her throat and began to speak, and I was ready to hang off of her every word.

"I have to get back to my dad, he's probably waiting for me in the security line. Don't want to miss my flight!"

She chuckled a little and I couldn't help but kiss her right then and there.